Seattle Kraken Reach Halfway Point of the 2022-23 Season
We're half way there - and the Kraken are living on a prayer! If the playoffs started today, the Kraken would be in a playoff spot in just their second season. Let's take a look at what's going right for the boys from the Puget Sound - and how to make it better.
We’re at the halfway mark of the NHL regular season. The Seattle Kraken have significantly outperformed the baseline standard they established last season.
They concluded the 2021-22 season with a record of 27-49-6, for a total of 60 points. After 47 games this season, Seattle has already reached 61 points and have surpassed the number of wins accumulated last season.
Plenty of things are going right for Puget Sound’s team, but there is still room for improvement. So, let’s dive deep into the first half!
Depth Scoring is Next Level
As we mentioned in our previous article, the Seattle Kraken are providing elite scoring on multiple levels. They can ice four even lines, full of scoring threats, which is difficult for any team to contain.
The Kraken are so deep they have an everyday NHLer as a healthy scratch every night – a player that would more than likely be in a lineup on almost every other NHL team. This will prove very crucial should the Kraken make the postseason.
The Road Warriors
Playing on the road is often much more difficult than playing at home. You do not have to worry about time changes, fans heckling, or not knowing about potential defects on the ice.
None of these concerns appear to phase the Seattle Kraken this season, having posted a record of 16-5-0-2 on the road this year. This goes along with 99 goals scored on the road – the most in the NHL.
To compare the two teams that went to the Stanley Cup finals last season: the defending champions, the Colorado Avalanche had a road record of 24-14-3. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay ended the season with a record of 24-15-2.
If the Seattle Kraken continue to perform at their current rate, they will sport a record of 28-8-5 on the road. This would be the third most road wins in NHL history (Detroit Red Wings hold the record at 31 wins in the 2005-06 season).
And let’s not forget, the Kraken recently came home from a 7-game road trip with a perfect 7-0-0 record, making them the first team to ever sweep a road trip of 7 games or more in NHL history!
Special Teams Needs To Be Better
The Kraken have been very solid playing 5-on-5. They have an average powerplay, scoring on 21.3% of powerplay attempts – good for 19th in the league. However, they have the 31st-ranked penalty kill, along with a whopping 71.5% accuracy.
The Seattle Kraken have racked up 400 PIMs, 11th fewest in the league. As the season goes on, teams start to play a rougher game, and penalties are more likely to come as a result.
If they do not learn how to stay out of the box, the Kraken had better hope to improve these PK stats. Otherwise, this could end up being the difference between a close divisional playoff race.
Goaltending Needs to Improve
When the Seattle Kraken signed Martin Jones in the off-season to replace injured Chris Driedger, very few expected him to play such an influential role in the Kraken’s success. At the halfway mark, Jones has accounted for 23 of the Kraken’s 28 wins while posting a 2.78 Goals Against Average (GAA).
In comparison, Philipp Grubauer posted a 3.18 GAA so far. Seattle needs to invest in their defense to help out the overall save percentage category. Jones has posted a .895 SV%, while Grubauer has a .893 SV%.
These are not solid NHL goaltending numbers.
Second Half Predictions
The Seattle Kraken will make the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Don’t worry, I am knocking on wood to prevent a jinx). The team has a 7-point cushion on the 8th place team in the west, along with one game in hand. Pending injuries and a significant collapse, the Kraken should slot in as a wild card team at worst.
They also have two games in hand on the Vegas Golden Knights, which tied with them for the divisional lead. It is possible the Kraken could go into the playoffs holding a home ice advantage!
The Kraken will make a trade for defensive depth. I predict that Joonas Donskoi will get traded to offset the cap hit. Players like Luke Schenn (Vancouver), Shayne Ghostisbehere (Arizona), and John Klingberg (Anaheim) are all projected to be available at the deadline. Depending on the offer, the Seattle Kraken could throw in one of their plethora of draft picks, along with someone from their depth scoring.
The Kraken will have to figure out what to do with their goaltending once Driedger fully recovers from ACL surgery. This will prove difficult for the Kraken. Will they choose to go with a goalie trio costing them $12 million toward the cap, or will they trade one at the deadline? Driedger is under contract for 2 more seasons. Grubauer has 4 more. Meanwhile, Jones is a pending UFA.
Regardless of what the Kraken choose to do at the trade deadline, the current season has been one for the ages. The league has taken notice of the Kraken. Let’s hope the Kraken can stay healthy and competitive, and bring some playoff hockey to The Deep!
Where do you think the Seattle Kraken need to make the biggest changes if they are going to be successful in the playoffs this year? Let us know in the comments below.